Sports
Super Eagles Stranded In Libya: Captain Slams Inhumane Treatment Ahead Of AFCON Qualifier
The captain of Nigeria’s Super Eagles, William Ekong, has voiced his frustration over the treatment his team has endured while stranded at Abraq International Airport in Libya.
In a series of posts on social media, Ekong shared harrowing images of players sleeping on the airport floor and described the dire conditions they are facing.
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However, their situation took a turn for the worse when the Libyan government unexpectedly rescinded approval for their plane to land in Benghazi, forcing a last-minute diversion.
Ekong reported that the team has been confined to the airport for over 12 hours, without access to basic necessities such as food, water, or even phone service.
The captain emphasized that while the team has encountered challenges during away games in Africa before, the current predicament is “disgraceful behavior” that is unacceptable.
He wrote, “12+ hours in an abandoned airport in Libya after our plane was diverted whilst descending. The Libyan government rescinded our approved landing in Benghazi without reason.
“They’ve locked the airport gates and left us without a phone connection, food, or drink. All to play mind games. I’ve experienced issues before while playing away in Africa, but this is disgraceful behavior.”
Recall that the Super Eagles arrived in Libya on Sunday, ready to compete in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against the Mediterranean Knights.
However, they found themselves stranded at Abraq International Airport less than 48 hours before the crucial match scheduled for Tuesday.
The Nigerian team departed Uyo on Sunday morning, but their troubles began later that evening when sports journalist Tobi Adepoju reported that the host nation had made a last-minute diversion of their chartered flight.
Despite securing clearance for the plane to land in Benghazi, just a short distance from Benina Stadium, the aircraft was unexpectedly redirected to the more distant Abraq International Airport.
“The agreement and approval the NFF obtained was for the chartered flight to land in Benghazi, but the plane was unexpectedly diverted to Abraq,” Adepoju wrote.
To make matters worse, while the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) had arranged transportation in Benghazi, no buses were provided by the Libyan Football Association to transport the team from Abraq to their destination.
Consequently, the Super Eagles have been unable to leave the airport, with locked gates preventing their exit.
Videos showing the team seated in the waiting area of Abraq Airport have gone viral on social media, alongside footage from NFF TV depicting officials attempting to communicate with airport authorities regarding the locked gates.
As it stands, Nigeria leads Group D with seven points, having previously defeated the Mediterranean Knights 1-0 in Uyo during the reverse fixture last Saturday.
Spain’s celebrations after winning the 2026 FIFA World Cup were overshadowed by tragedy after a 13-year-old boy died and several others were injured when a fountain collapsed during jubilant scenes in the western Spanish town of Ciudad Rodrigo.
The heartbreaking incident occurred shortly after Spain secured a historic 1-0 victory over Argentina in the World Cup final, ending a 16-year wait for the country’s second global football title.
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According to local authorities, emergency services received multiple distress calls at around 12:30 a.m. local time after a fountain packed with celebrating fans suddenly collapsed.
In a statement posted on Facebook, Ciudad Rodrigo City Hall confirmed the teenager’s death and expressed condolences to the victim’s family.
“The city hall of Ciudad Rodrigo expresses its sadness and presents its condolences for the death of a boy of 13.”
The municipality described the incident as a devastating turn of events, saying: “What should have been a celebration of Spain’s team in the football World Cup turned into tragedy.”
Emergency services also confirmed that another youth was injured in the collapse, while several others sustained injuries as rescue teams rushed to the scene.
Local media reported that the fountain gave way under the weight of dozens of fans who had climbed onto the structure to celebrate Spain’s World Cup triumph.
The fatal accident cast a somber mood over celebrations across the football-loving nation, with many expressing grief just hours after Spain’s memorable victory on the world stage.
Spain have been crowned 2026 FIFA World Cup champions after defeating defending champions Argentina in a thrilling final to reclaim football’s biggest prize.
La Roja delivered a composed and determined performance on the grandest stage, overcoming the South American giants to secure their second FIFA World Cup title and their first since their historic triumph in 2010.
The highly anticipated showdown lived up to expectations as both teams battled fiercely for global supremacy.
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However, Spain’s tactical discipline, attacking quality, and defensive resilience proved decisive as they ended Argentina’s reign as world champions.
Spain’s road to glory included impressive victories over some of the tournament’s strongest sides, underlining their dominance throughout the competition.
The triumph also marks the culmination of a remarkable resurgence led by a talented new generation of stars, who have restored Spain to the pinnacle of world football.
For Argentina, the defeat ends their hopes of retaining the World Cup crown, despite another spirited campaign that saw them reach a second consecutive final.
Spain’s victory cements their place among football’s elite once again, bringing the 2026 FIFA World Cup to a memorable conclusion.
England ended their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign on a high after defeating France 6-4 in a pulsating third-place playoff at Miami Stadium on Saturday to secure the bronze medal.
Thomas Tuchel’s men produced an electric attacking display, storming into a commanding four-goal lead before France launched a spirited comeback.
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Declan Rice opened the scoring early, while Ezri Konsa doubled England’s advantage. Bukayo Saka then stole the show with a first-half brace as the Three Lions headed into the break with complete control of the contest.
France responded strongly after halftime, with captain Kylian Mbappé leading the charge by scoring twice.
Bradley Barcola also found the net to reduce the deficit and briefly raise hopes of an unlikely comeback for Les Bleus.
However, England had the final say as Saka completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot deep into stoppage time to seal a thrilling 5-3 victory and confirm England’s third-place finish at the tournament.
The victory marked a fitting response to England’s heartbreaking semi-final defeat to Argentina and secured the nation’s best World Cup finish since 1966.
France, meanwhile, ended the tournament in fourth place after suffering back-to-back defeats in the knockout stage.
Attention now shifts to Sunday’s World Cup final, where Spain will battle defending champions Argentina for football’s biggest prize.
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